Former Churches Blessed With New Lives in Pittsburgh

In its heyday Pittsburgh built ornate Romanesque and Gothic chapels, churches and cathedrals in nearly every corner of the city. But the Steel City has been in decline and people have been turning away from organized religion. Now some savvy entrepreneurs have been purchasing many of Pittsburgh’s disused churches and adapting them into clubs, restaurants, theaters and concert venues.

The Church Brew Works, a brewpub within the restored St. John the Baptist Church.
Credit Jeff Swensen for The New York Times

Below is a photo of The Priory Hotel where I recently stayed when I was in Pittsburgh. I dislike cookie cutter high rise hotels and this was exactly what I was looking for. St. Mary’s Priory, was built in 1888 for Benedictine monks. The family-owned boutique hotel is home to the pint-size Monks’ Bar, known as the smallest pub in Pennsylvania, and the aptly named Grand Hall, a sumptuous event space featuring restored Austrian stained glass windows.

Read more about creative restoration in Pittsburgh: NYT